Package



Dec. 29, 1964 BORGARDT 3,163,351

PACKAGE Filed May 31, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 29, 1964 BORGARDT 3,163,351

PACKAGE Filed May 31, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [HI r1722?" ///V/?Y za s/war United States Patent 3,163,351 PACKAGE Henry Borgardt, Chicago, Ill., assiguor to National Dairy Products Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 31, 1961, Ser. No. 113,845 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to packaging, and more particularly to means for packaging a number of smaller units for shipment and handling in such a Way that by a single, quick and simple operation they are made accessible.

Desirable characteristics for containers or outer boxes for holding a number of smaller individual packages or units are dictated by a number of factors. These containers should adequately hold and protect the individual packages during any storage, transportation, and handling prior to the packages being placed on the retailers shelves. Thus, they should be strong and durable. This is particularly true when the smaller packages are easily deformed or damaged and the product depends to a great extent upon presenting an attractive appearance to the consumer.

Next, due particularly to the trend toward merchandizing on a larger scale, minimizing time and eifort between receipt of the containers by the retailer and final placement of the individual packages on his shelves, has become increasingly important. In this connection, since it is desirable that each retailer be able to stamp his own particular price on each individual package when he receives it, ready and quick access to each individual package in the container is very desirable. In particular, it is desirable to be able to accomplish this stamping without having to remove some of the packages, and without having to so extensively tear the container that its value for further holding or handling is substantially reduced. In addition, it is desirable to be able to eiIectively reclose the original container, after the packages are price stamped, so that it may serve for storing or transporting the goods.

While many containers have been devised, those which are sufiiciently sturdy and durable to adequately protect the goods, tend to be difficult and time consuming to open, and especially to open so as to give access to each of the smaller packages. On the other hand, the containers which give quicker and easier access, tend to lack the ability to prevent damage to the goods. On both sides there are problems of reclosability.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide an improved container for a plurality of individual units. It is also an object to provide a blank which is formable into such a container.

A more specific object is the provision of a sturdy shipping and handling container for a plurality of individual packages, which container is openable in a single quick and simple operation to permit access to each of the packages. Another object is to provide such a container which is readily loadable with the packages. Another object is to provide such a container which is readily and conveniently reclosable for further handling or storage. It is also an object to provide such a container which is separable into two complete sub-containers. Still another object is to provide such an improved container which is simple, yet economical to produce.

Various other 0 jects and advantages of the invention will become obvious from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view (with parts broken away) of cover and base sections of a multi-unit container which embodies various features of the invention, said sections being disposed with the cover section in position to be lowered onto the base section;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container after it has been filled with smaller packages and the sections assembled together;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the container in a position inverted from that shown in FIG. 2, the separable seams of the container having been broken incident to its being opened;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the container with its partially severed halves rotated still farther with respect to the positions seen in FIG. 3, with the extended intermediate wall facing upwardly;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the container with the halves completely rotated and the intermediate Wall just severed;

FIGURE 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 5, with I a portion broken away and with the flaps formed by the severed intermediate wall fully opened to permit access to the packages in the container;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken gen- 'j erally along line 7-7 of FIG. 1, showing the construction of the base section of the container; p I 7 FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 88 of FIG. 6, but with the two halves of the container separated to provide two sub-containers, andwith the fiap of one sub-container being reclosed;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a blank which is formable" into the cover section of the container; and

FIGURE 10 is a planview of 'a blank formableinto I the base section of the container. 7

Generally, the device shown in the drawings is a container 12 adapted to provide a package of smaller individual units or packages 14. The illustrated container 12 comprises a base or lower receptacle 20 having a twoply intermediate wall 18 which divides the receptacle into two portions. A top or cover 22 completes the container. A single, simple operation is all that is required to open the container 12. Taking the filled container shown in FIG.

doubled over as shown in FIG. 5, results in the two plies v of the extended intermediate wall 18 being separated to provide access to each of the units 14 in the container 12 (FIGS. 5 and 6). i

The separated p-lies of the intermediate wall 18 act as flaps for reclosing the container. By reclosing the flaps and retracing the steps just outlined for opening the container 12, it may be effectively reclosed for reshipping or further handling. As an alternative, the two halves of the container may .be completely separated fromone another, as shown in FIG. 8, making two complete reclosable sub-containers.

Thus, a sturdy, durable shipping and handling container is provided which is readily and quickly openable to provide access to each of the units which it holds.

While there may be a number of possible ways to provide a container having the novel features just described, the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings is particularly advantageous in various respects, and the invention will be illustrated by means of a description of this embodiment.

The smaller individual packages 14 are illustratedin the drawings as small, flat, rectangular packages, each containing a stack of slices of food product such as cheese and each weighing about 8 ounces. The illus- Federated Dec. 29, 1964' packages 14,

packages 14, and the cover section 22 which is received onto the base section 20 and secured in that position to complete the assembled container 14. The base and cover sections 20 and 22 are fabricated from formable blanks 20a and22a, respectively, which are preferably made from a sheet material, such as paperboard, which is light weight and flexible, but which has suflicient body to offer protection to the contents of the container. Generally, the base section 20 is formed.v from a blank 20a (FIG. which is folded as shown 'in FIG. 1 to form an upwardly open, rectangular box having the upright two-ply intermediate wall 18 extending down the middle of it, to thereby divide it into two portions which each receive individual packages 14. The cover section is formed from a blank 22a (FIG. 9-) which isfolded into a downwardly open, rectangular cover or lid adapted to fit-down over the base section 29, from the position'shown in FIG. 1, to complete the container 12.

For convenience, the container 12 and its parts will be described, unless otherwise indicated, in .the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; that is, with the base section 29 upwardly open to receive the smaller packages 14. As will be seen, the various parts are reoriented when the container is opened, so that the use of the position of FIGS. 1 and 2 is merely to facilitate the description of the structure.

Toassist in the description, the drawings of the blanks 20a and 22a (FIGS. 9 and 10) are provided with a number of lines which are designated by small double letters. Further to facilitate the description, each panel is given the number of the wall of the assembled container which that panel forms, plus a letter sufiix to distinguish it from the wall itself and from the other contributing panels.

The blank 20:: from which the base section 20 is fabricated, is shown in FIG. 10 with the surface which willbe on the inside of the container 12 facing upwardly.

The blank 20a comprises, generally, four center-panels 18a, 18b, 32a and 32b, a pair of side panels 26b and 27b, and two pair of end panels 28b, 280, 2912 and 29c.

More particularly, inthe center there area pair of rectangular inner center panels 18a and 18b separated by a line of weakness such as a perforated cut in the blank (along line 1171). Adjacent the outer side of each rectangular inner panel 18 and 18b, and connected thereto along fold lines provided by scoring the blank along lines gg and if, is a rectangular outer center panel 32a and 32b. To provide the intermediate wall 18 and the separable base wall 32, the blank 20a is folded along perforatedline hh and fold lines ggand ii to the positions shown best in FIG. 7. The inner center panels 18a and 18b are thereby disposed in a generally fiush, juxtaposed position, each forming one ply of the two-ply intermediate wall 18 which extends outwardly-and generally perpendicular to the separable base wall 32' that is formed by 'the edge-.to-edge outer center panels 32a and 32b. While disposed face-to-face, the plies 18a and 1812 are only connected along their upper edge, and that. is a separable connection by virtue of the perforation out along that connection line hh. The panels or halves 32a and 32b makingup the separable base wall or bottoml32, 'while held in the edge-to-edge position in the assembled con tainer. 12, are not themselves connected along these adjoining edges, but rather'remain two separate halves. The means for holding them in place will be described below.

'of the outer centerpanel 32a, andconnected along fold lines, such as are provided by the blank being scored along line mm, are rectangular end panels 28b and 2%; outwardly from the ends of panel 32b, and connected in a like manner, are end panels 28c and 29c. Separably connected to the inner edge, respectively, of end panels 28b and 2% are tabs 34a and 34b. The separable connection is provided by a perforated out between each tab and its adjoining panel (along line gg). Notches 36a and 37a are provided at the respective intersections of the perforated cuts with the outer edges of the blank. The inner corners of panels 28c and 290 are also provided with notches 36b and 37b.

To complete the fabrication of the base section, the side and end panels are folded upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1. The tabs 34a and 34b overlap, in face-to-face relation, parts of the panels 28:: and 29c, respectively,

- and they are secured in that position, as by means of Adjacent the outer side of each outer'center panel 32a and 32b, and connected to it along a fold line.

adhesive, to maintain the parts of the base section in their proper positions.

Thus, the fabricated base section 20 presents an upwardly open box divided by the intermediate wall 18 into two portions for receiving the smaller individual packages 14.

The cover section 22 fits down over the base section 20 (from the position shown in FIG. 1) when the latter has been filled with packages 14. The cover section 22 is fabricated from the blank 22:: which is shown in FIG. 9 with its surface which will be on the outside of the assembled container facing upwardly. The blank 22a has a rectangular center panel 24a, a pair of side panels 26:: and 27a, a pair of end panels 28av and 29a, and four corner tabs 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d. The blank 22a is scored to provide a fold line down the middle of the foldable panel 24a (along line bb), and also to provide fold lines between the center panel 24a and the side and end panels (along lines aa, cc, dd and ee). The end panels 28a and 29a each have a perforated cut through the middle (along line bb), and they each have a notch 3th: and 31a, respectively, at the intersection of each perforated cut with the edge of the blank. The cover section 22 is formed by folding the side and end panels downwardly and securing them in place, as by means of the corner tabs 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and a suitable adhesive joining these tabs to the side panels 26:: and 27a.

The cover section 22 fits down over the base section 20 and is preferably fixed in that position as by means of spot tacking together adjacent side panels of the two container sections with a suitable adhesive.

As noted above, the various walls of the container 12 are made up of. one or more panels of the blanks 2th. and 22a which bear the same number as the wall, but with various small letter sufiixes. The resultant container 12 (FIG. 2) comprises a rectangular enclosure which is made 241'] of the cover section 22, while the separable base wall 32is formed by the center panels 32a and 32b of the base section 26. The side walls 26 and 27 are made up of side panels 26a and27a of the cover section and side panels 26b and 27b of the base section.

The end wall 28 is formed bythe end panel 28a of the cover section and the end panels 289 and 28d of the base I section. The perforated cut in the end panel 28a of the I cover section is in general alignment with the perforated cut in' the end panel 28b of the base section when the I two sections are assembled together. Ina like manner, the end wall 29'is comprised of end panels 29a, 29b and 2%, and the perforated cuts in the panels 29:: and 29b are in general alignment.

The two-ply intermediate wall 18 is approximately the same height as the side and end walls of the container,

and is disposed within the enclosure generally parallel to and midway between the side walls 26 and 27 so as to divide the enclosure into two portions. The wall 18 is in general alignment with the perforated cuts in the end walls 28 and 29, the middle fold line bb in the foldable base wall 24, and also with the line dividing the separable wall 32 into two halves. Specifically, the two-ply intermediate wall 18 is made up of the inner center panels 18a and 18b of the base section, with each panel forming one of the two plys. The plys 18a and 18b are separably connected together by the perforated out along their upper edges, which edges lie adjacent to the foldable base wall 24 when the container 12 is assembled. Each of the plies 18a and 18b is connected along its lower edge to the inner edge of one of the halves of the separable base wall 32.

The assembled container 12, while being a unitary structure, may also be viewed as two connected halves or subcontainers, each subcontainer comprising one half of the enclosure and one ply or panel of the two-ply intermediate wall 18. The two halves are semi-permanently hingedly connected together along fold line bb of the foldable base wall 24 (FIG. 2), and are otherwise only separably connected. This separable connection is provided by the aligned perforated cuts in the end 'walls 28 and 29 and also by the separable connection between the plies of the intermediate wall 18.

Now to consider the operation of the container 12 in further detail. As already noted, the container 12 is openable in one simple and quick operation to provide generally simultaneous access to all of the individual packages 14. With this in mind, the single operation will be viewed as a series of steps to facilitate a full and complete understanding of its various aspects and advantages. Initially, the container 12 may be turned over and cracked or broken, as shown in FIG. 3, by severing it along the perforated cuts or seams in the end walls 28 and 29 at either of its ends. The cracking is conveniently accomplished by grasping the turned over container in both hands, and rapping it along its center fold line bb sharply against an edge or corner. The notches 30 and 31 at the beginning of the perforated cuts facilitate the separation of the two halves.

After the container 12 is cracked, the halves are essentially connected together only along a single line defined by the meeting of a longitudinal edge of each half (FIG. 3). The physical connection is between the halves of the foldable base wall 24 (along line bb), and also between the plies 18a and 18b of the intermediate wall 18 (along line hh). As the height of the intermediate wall 18 in the illustrated structure is approximately equal to the height of the side and end walls, this physical connection is essentially a single line connection. The rotation of the halves serves to fold back upon one another the halves of the foldable base wall 24, and also serves to unfold or extend the plies 18a and 18b of the intermediate Wall 18 toward a common plane, as shown in FIG. 4. The full rotation of the halves of the illustrated container, so that the halves of the foldable base wall 24 are generally flush serves to burst apart the extended intermediate wall 18 along its perforated center line (hh), as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, the single operation of cracking the container 14 and rotating its halves serves to open the container.

As shown in FIG. 6, each individual package in the opened container is readily accessible, as for price stamping. To reclose the container 14, the flaps provided by the intermediate wall plies 18a and 18b enclosed, and

the steps involved in opening the container are retraced. The container may be held in that closed condition, generally shown in FIG. 2, by tape, cord, etc., for further storage, shipment or handling.

As shown in FIG. 8, if desired, the container 14 may be cut or torn along line bb of the foldable base Wall 24 to provide two separate, complete containers, each provided with its own closing flap.

Thus, a highly improved container is provided, which container is sturdy and durable for shipment and handling of a plurality of smaller individual packages, yet which allows access to each of the packages through a single, extremely simple, essentially one-motion operation. In addition, the container is easily and readily reclosable for further handling of the goods. Although shown and described with respect to a particular embodiment, it will be apparent that various modifications might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A container comprising a receptacle defined by 2. rectangular base wall comprising two rectangular panels each including a portion thereof which is foldable up wardly in position to provide a two-ply intermediate wall extending between an opposing pair of side edges of said base wall and in parallel relation to the other pair of side edges of said base wall, the upper edges of said two plies being joined together along a line of perforations, a first pair of side Walls extending upwardly from each of the opposing edges of said base wall, each of said side walls of said first pair having a line of perforations extending generally normal to said base and being located in alignment with said intermediate wall, a second pair of side walls extending upwardly from each of the other side edges of said base Wall, and a lid overlying said receptacle but separate therefrom, said lid including an integral rectangular cover panel adapted to be disposed in parallel relation to said base and coextensive therewith, said. cover panel including a fold line positioned so as to lie in the plane of said intermediate wall and coextensive therewith, said fold line being such as to render said cover panel foldable along said line but capable of resisting separation along said line when in tension perpendicular to said line, side walls extending downwardly from each edge of said rectangular cover panel and in telescoping relation to said side walls of said receptacle, adjacent side walls of said lid being interconnected with one another, each of an oppos ing pair of said side walls adjacent opposite ends of said fold line of said cover panel being provided with a line of perforations disposed normal to said cover panel and positioned so as to constitute an extension of said fold line in said opposing side walls, each of said lines of perforation terminating in a notch in the lower edge of said side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sugerrnan Dec. 19, 1933 

